Kookie News of the Day! Bionic Dolphins are Here to Stay!
http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/12/17/spark.dolphin/index.html wrote:
Dolphin design fulfils lifelong dream
When Thomas "Doc" Rowe told people almost 30 years ago that he wanted to build a bionic dolphin, people thought he was crazy.
The young surfer dreamed of sitting in a mechanical capsule that would move in and out of waves just as a dolphin does.
Now 52, Doc has dedicated most of his life to building the machines.
The concept recently made waves -- literally -- around the world when one of the bionic dolphins, built by Doc's protégé Rob Innes, appeared at a New Zealand expo named "Big Boys' Toys."
The dolphin, described by Doc as the world's first underwater flying machine, attracted a huge amount of media interest during a test drive around Auckland harbor, in New Zealand.
It has also appeared in the Austin Powers' film "Goldmember."
Since then, Doc has been inundated with queries from people around the globe wanting to share the dolphin dream...
Countries everywhere want mechanical dolphins to strap radars and bombs to, and to find little kids lost at sea.
But??? Will it finally lead us to understand the finer points of dolphin speak and eccolocation???? Probably not.
Maybe it'll turn out like Bladerunner and I, Robot, and the dolphins will develop their own feelings and turn on mankind? Or flee if they know what is smart for them....
So Long, thanks for making us, and Thanks for All the Fish :wink:
